Camry, Accord’s rivalry continues with 2015 models

The ‘rivalry’ between the Camry and Accord, two acknowledged leaders in the car segment, continues as shown in the just revealed features of their 2015 models.

Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have been a crowd-puller over the years. They both belong to the midsize sedan group, which is the largest selling vehicle segment in Nigeria and globally.

A prominent auto reviewer, the Car Connection, notes the sweeping redesign in the 2015 Camry with a completely new look for the interior and exterior, added noise insulation, and upgraded driving dynamics, it insists the Toyota model faces stronger competition from the recently refreshed versions of the Honda Accord.

Although the Camry has more than any vehicle won the Nigerian car of the year in the last five years, the two have consistently made the final nomination list.

The Camry was the third best-selling vehicle in the United States, after the Ford F-150, with the Accord right behind it.

Exterior

An online auto journal, Digital Trend, says both the Camry and Accord have a reputation for boring styling, but Toyota tries to change that with the 2015 model.

The new Camry takes its styling cues from the Avalon and Corolla, with bit of the Lexus.

According to Digital Trend, the most dramatic change is the yawning chasm of a grille on SE and XSE models.

In contrast, the Accord is restrained and subtle. It’s a handsome car, but also a bit anonymous. The one thing it has over the Camry in the styling department is an available coupe body style.

“Toyota really tries to make the 2015 Camry more exciting, and for that it gets the nod here,” it states.

The new Camry has an aggressive front-end appearance, with LED front running lamps, LED auto-leveling lamps for the low and high beams.

The Camry has nearly 2,000 new parts compared to the 2014 model. Toyota says that everything is new except the roof.

Interior

The new Accord and Camry feature simple, functional interiors with now-obligatory centre-stack display screens for their respective infotainment systems.

The Camry adds a 4.2-inch TFT display nestled between new Optitron gauges, plus wireless smartphone charging in a compartment in the center console.

Toyota’s large central screen and buttons also looks easier to use than Honda’s split screens, and the (optional) French stitching gives the interior a slightly sportier feel.

Engine

Buyers can choose between a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 178 horsepower with 170 pound-feet of torque and a 3.5-litre V6 with 268 hp and 248 lb-ft, both paired with six-speed automatic transmissions.

The Accord comes standard with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder that produces 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque.

It is paired with either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

It also has an optional 3.5-litre V6 that produces 278 hp and 252 lb-ft, with a six-speed automatic.

Performance

The Accord has been the driver’s choice in the area of pleasant driving experience. Auto experts note that Honda has always had an uncanny ability to make its ordinary models more than ordinary.

But the Camry, which had been known as one of the most boring cars on the road, tries to change the perception with the 2015 model. The addition of a “sporty” XSE trim level for 2015 is meant to achieve this.

The Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation, Mr. Akio Toyoda, has promised more-exciting cars.

Toyota claims to have made some significant changes to improve the Camry’s responsiveness. While the existing MacPherson strut, multi-link rear suspension layout is carried over into the 2015 Camry, with a new calibration for the electric power steering and a re-tuned brake-booster system to make it a better-driving car.

Safety

According to the Car Connection, the 2015 Camry offers more active-safety features than before, including lane departure alert, a pre-collision system with auto high beams, and a blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control is also on offer with that feature set.

The Accord sedan models feature a rearview camera to see more of what is around the car when driving in reverse.

A small camera mounted at the top of the front windshield or, in the case of the Touring model, a radar system mounted in the front grille can detect the presence of vehicles in front.